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by Richard Neville
As time and distance are annihilated, and infoglut descends
like smog on the brain, an ancient Japanese verse form is
being re-vived as a way of distilling and digesting the ironies
of contemporary life. Ideally, a haiku should be sharp, simple
and moody.
Richard Neville tries his hand.
Fresh pit in forest
behind the resort -
garbage bags spewing.
On Kuta Beach
three McDonalds -
no magic omelettes
Path to cascades
paved by banana leaf -
and Coke cans.
Mountain-walled village
protected from cyclone
and Sky TV.
Authentic village feast,
tribal costumes -
hotel pick-up, daily.
Hideaway islands:
Bette Middler CD's
turds in lagoon.
Baskets of coconuts,
pineapples, papaya -
our kids guzzle SunKist.
Honey-eaters sway
on transplanted frond -
tractor rakes artificial beach.
Diving the Agean:
barnacled amphorae
disposable nappies.
Hired car
Spanish isle
Broken back.
Lifestyle innovators
in beachy enclave
stalked by Pizza Hut.
Superstar's birthday,
fireworks & feasts -
Mick Jagger yawns.
CORPORATE
HAIKU
Global brand,
Asian sweatshop,
soaring shareprice.
Leveraged buy-out,
pensions raided -
another millionaire.
The world's most lavish
psycho-experiment
is global advertising.
A life of triumph
seemingly depends
on our brand of sports-shoe.
Born free
we are everywhere
in franchise chains.
The cyber-circus
delights consumers
as the world heats up.
The common good
is the true goal of business.
Not profit.
Richard Neville
rneville@ozemail.com.au
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